Visit this French cultured Indian city Pondicherry

French culture but Indian city - Pondicherry:

While Goa is known to every  one, and is very popular, Pondicherry has not been that much  highlighted. Every one who is some one talks about Goa, people feel its  the place to be, famous for partying and fun. But yet no one talks of  Pondicherry as being a happening place, no one I have heard speaks of  honeymooning in Pondicherry or Pondy. But still Pondy has a charm of its own, a  gentle laid back charm, which helps you to soothe your soul. Its very  quiet, calm and tranquil. It certainly is not the most beautiful of  places, the Indian section is like any other Indian city, dirty noisy  and crowded, but is still charming.

French Quarter

If not for anything, you do need to visit Pondy, for this. Of course unlike in Goa, where you do have a lot of Da Souzas, Gonsalves, D'Cruz, the chance of running into a Depardieu or De Gaulle is somewhat less.  The entire town is  patterned on the French grid pattern. To a visitor the French influence  is unmistakable. The French names of the streets, the French style  villas, the afternoon siesta when nothing stirs, the bicycles on the  streets. One could be forgiven for thinking that they are in some old  Mediterranean town popularized by Hollywood. In the French quarter, the  buildings are typically colonial style with long compounds and stately  walls, the like of which we see only in Hollywood romances.

And it's not just the homes, the cops too here are pretty much dressed like their French gendarme counterparts. And yeah the only place in India where Bastille Day is a holiday.

And if you have not been able to visit the Arc De Triomphe in Paris, you can check out the Park Monument in Pondicherry, pretty much a replica of it

Also the Beach Promenade in Pondicherry, pretty much reminscient of a Meditteranean resort

The Aurobindo Ashram here is a must visit.Founded in 1926 by one of  India's famous sons, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Its a unique  spiritual concept revolving around offering work as a Divine offering.  There are no rituals, no compulsory meditation, no practices. But it  revolves around only one principle: One must surrender to the Divine  principle and an opening to the Divine force. The Ashram also contains  the tomb of Aurobindo and the Mother. The Ashram also has farms, a  printing press and libraries.

Another place that is a must  see, Auroville the City of Dawn. Its a unique township never seen of  its kind in India. It was an experiment for celebrating unity in  diversity. It was founded on Feb 28,1968 when youth from 128 nations and  Indian states met together and placed the earth from their native  places in an urn, symbolic of international understanding. Located a few  kilometers from Pondy, at the center of the township stands Matrimandir  built in the form of a globe, its a place for quiet concentration.  There are 80 settlements and 1500 people engaged in various activities  like reforestation, organic agriculture, health care, village  development etc. At present it is managed by the Auroville foundation.

Inside of the Matrimandir in Auroville, pretty much out of some Hollywood sci fi movie

Also Pondicherry can be used as a base for other places, nearby too like

Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, an awesome piece of architecture. Lord Shiva here is represented as Nirakara, one without any shape or form.

You can also visit Pichavaram, famous for it's mangrove forests. 

The East Coast Road between Chennai and Pondicherry is a delight to drive on and gives you a great view of the Bay of Bengal. And on the route 

The Shore Temple and Rathas at Mahabalipuram

Hang out for some time with crocodiles, alligators and gharials at the Crocodile Bank near Mahabalipuram. 

So if you have not yet visited Pondicherry, plan a trip preferably during October-March, you sure will enjoy it.